I’ve been totally immersed in the story of Job like many of you over these past weeks–now months. Robb and Aaron have been doing some great teaching in a book that I mostly would hurry up and pass on the way to reading the Psalms. Isn’t it interesting that this book precedes the book in the bible that many point to as the roadmap for the worshipper but what lessons we can learn about worship from Job?

Job through all of his commiserating comes to ask a central question that is something maybe we should all give pause to and ask…”Do we worship God because he is good to us, or do we worship God simply because he is God? Job is one righteous guy and despite everything, he worshiped God daily. In fact it was through this faithful worship that Job came to understand the character of God, which made all the difference, but not without question and doubt. Job’s perspective was still limiting and often like Job we find ourselves wanting to somehow equate God with the human.

While worship is often viewed as ritual, the essence of worship is found in knowing and glorifying God. Job expresses this truth…”I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” (42:5). I think that Job challenges our superficial notions about worship and the God we serve. Worship teaches us about God’s character and how important is that for us to cling to when it all hits the fan?

What can we learn? Maybe that genuine worship does not find its origin in habit or tradition or ritual, rather it comes through a deeper understanding a proper vision of who God is and what our relationship with Him can be.